The Peer Support and Student Executive classes at Grand River Collegiate Institute (GRCI) worked very hard last week running activities for the annual Bullying Awareness Week.

Monday – The week was launched by posting a banner by the Student Executive class for students to add their signature for “Stand Up, Speak Up ” to bullying.

Tuesday – The Peer Support class rallied the student body to raise a hand for the “Love is Louder” campaign. Students were encouraged to speak out by writing on their hands what they believed love could overcome. Many addressed the effects bullying has on people and how these effects are shown in anxiety, depression, self injury and suicide.

Wednesday – Both Peer Support and Student Executive classes, along with a few staff, surprised everyone with an awesome Flash Mob in the cafe at lunch.

Thursday – The Peer Support class encouraged everyone to wear pink for their 7th annual Pink Day and mass photo.  Darryl Law from Dave FM also stopped by the Peer Support class to talk about his experiences of being bullied and its impact on his life.

Friday – The week wrapped up with the sales of anti-bullying cookies and proceeds going to GRCI’s Nutrition for Learning program. In addition, many students wore “My Life Matters” t-shirts from the Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council as a way of recognizing how many of our youth take their lives because of bullying.

The students in the Peer Support class did a fantastic job of planning and organizing GRCI’s events for the week, with a special shout out to Bonnie Lee Armstrong, who is a passionate educator around anti-bullying initiatives!

 

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“Stand Up, Speak Up” posters fill the halls.

 

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The “Love is Louder” campaign encouraged students to write on their hands what they believed love could overcome.

 

Visitor Daryl Law from DaveFM spoke of his experiences of being bullied.

Visitor Daryl Law from Dave FM spoke of his experiences of being bullied.

 

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Students wore “My Life Matters” t-shirts from the Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council.